SEQUIM — Clallam County Auditor Patty Rosand and other county staff worked diligently to pull computer records at the Sequim Vehicle/Vessel Licensing office.

Karen Shewbert, who has operated the office for 12 years, stood by — upset and helpless as the office was shut down.

Rosand on Friday audited — and then terminated — Shewbert’s contract, closing the office at 1001 E. Washington St. and leaving East Clallam County customers without a licensing bureau in Sequim.

“I apologize for the temporary disruption of licensing service to the citizens of Sequim,” Rosand said in a statement released shortly after 1 p.m. Friday.

Rosand said Shewbert failed to report all of her records to the auditor as required under her 10-year contract, a charge Shewbert vehemently denied.

“It’s really tragic,” Shewbert said in her office early Friday morning while she and her staff boxed office materials and prepared to move our for good.

Breaking out in tears, Shewbert added:

“What really hurts is I feel like we are letting the community down, and [Rosand] takes no position in support of this office to show the community she cares about it.”

Rosand said she has contacted the Department of Licensing to seek permission to publish a request for a proposal for a replacement subagency in Sequim.

After visits to proposed sites, all proposals — along with recommendations from Rosand — would be submitted to the state department for appointment of a new subagent.

Training would be provided to the new staff by the county licensing manager, Rosand said.

Filed for appeal

Shewbert filed an appeal May 4 with the state Department of Licensing to have an independent review panel hear the case within 30 days.

The review panel for Shewbert’s appeal will include a county auditor representing the Washington Association of County Auditors, a subagent representing the Washington Subagents Association and the director of the Department of Licensing or his representative.

The hearing will take place in Clallam County at a date and location to be determined by the Department of Licensing.

Rosand, county chief accountant Stan Creasey and Auditor’s Office licensing manager Lila Duncan conducted the audit of inventory and monies at the office, while a Department of Licensing representative recovered computer equipment.

Shewbert was handed a written termination of contract.

“As your county auditor, I expect that all of my employees and contractors will be fully accountable for all public funds, and they will keep complete and accurate records of all financial transactions in accordance with laws and policies,” Rosand said in a statement.

“I have taken an oath as an elected official to that effect and take my duties very seriously.”

Services available

Rosand said besides coming to Port Angeles for license tabs at her office on the first floor of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., licensing customers have the option of mailing their renewal notices to the courthouse, going to the Jefferson County auditor at 1820 Jefferson St. in Port Townsend or visiting www.dol.wa.gov to purchase tabs using their debit or credit cards.

The convenience fees charged to customers using the subagency are not charged at county auditor offices, Rosand said.

Rosand’s action came a day after a Superior Court hearing before acting Court Commissioner William Knebes in which lawyers for Shewbert, Rosand and the state Department of Licensing agreed on an audit to allow Rosand to determine if Shewbert’s contract was in breach.

Acting through her Sequim attorney, Craig Miller, Shewbert had originally sought a court injunction against Rosand’s office that would allow the office to remain open until the case could be appealed.

The office was allowed to remain open only Thursday before Rosand sent Shewbert notice Thursday morning.

The notice said, in part: “In anticipation of the audit and potential closure of [the office] tomorrow, please plan accordingly, understanding that today may be the last day on which [the office] is open to the public.”

A Clallam County deputy was called in to keep the peace Friday during a tense but otherwise quiet situation in which Rosand and Duncan entered the office at 10 a.m. to print out financial records kept on two computers at the office.

Shewbert and her full-time office clerk, Christine Henderson, and two part-timers, Sylvia Giddens and Cindy Clardy, were in the office early in the morning gathering and boxing records and materials in the office before Rosand showed up.

“We’re all out of work,” Shewbert lamented.

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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2390 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.